89 1st gen Runner rear seat swap
06-18-2007, 06:36 PM
#1
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89 1st gen Runner rear seat swap
I am going to do a full write up when I have more time, but I wanted to see throw this out there for anyone that is contemplating rear seats on a 4runner and needs parts.
I swapped in some dirty, but nice SR5 rear seats from a 2nd generation. Its not complicated, but its not a direct bolt in, and it is time consuming. Basically, they both operate the same, and they are the same size, but all the mounts and strike points are in different locations. That being the case, I stripped the cushions off the seats and swapped frames. My frames had lots of rust, so I sanded them down and sprayed them with some of that rust stopper stuff before putting the new covers on.
I had to cut some of the foam on the new cushions to make them fit the old frame and then I used lots of zip ties to attach them instead of the Hog nose clips.
All in all, it turned out great, and I have been detailing the interior over the last few weeks so this just added some snap. I will post pics later this week, but if you are getting ready to do this, pm me or post here and I will help out if you have questions.
If you need seats for your 1st gen, I would try and find some of these to put in. Even if you don't have seats now or it didn't come with them, you probably have the holes drilled and threaded already. You would then have to remount the hardward to match the holes and remount the locking mechanism for the back cushions to lock them in place. I just swapped frames so the mounting wouldn't be an issue.
I now have a pile of old 89 4runner cushions and 95 frames along with some misc. trim pieces. If you need anything, let me know, or its getting dumped. I know I should just trash it, but someone always needs something.
I swapped in some dirty, but nice SR5 rear seats from a 2nd generation. Its not complicated, but its not a direct bolt in, and it is time consuming. Basically, they both operate the same, and they are the same size, but all the mounts and strike points are in different locations. That being the case, I stripped the cushions off the seats and swapped frames. My frames had lots of rust, so I sanded them down and sprayed them with some of that rust stopper stuff before putting the new covers on.
I had to cut some of the foam on the new cushions to make them fit the old frame and then I used lots of zip ties to attach them instead of the Hog nose clips.
All in all, it turned out great, and I have been detailing the interior over the last few weeks so this just added some snap. I will post pics later this week, but if you are getting ready to do this, pm me or post here and I will help out if you have questions.
If you need seats for your 1st gen, I would try and find some of these to put in. Even if you don't have seats now or it didn't come with them, you probably have the holes drilled and threaded already. You would then have to remount the hardward to match the holes and remount the locking mechanism for the back cushions to lock them in place. I just swapped frames so the mounting wouldn't be an issue.
I now have a pile of old 89 4runner cushions and 95 frames along with some misc. trim pieces. If you need anything, let me know, or its getting dumped. I know I should just trash it, but someone always needs something.
06-18-2007, 10:33 PM
#4
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Thread Starter
What a day, the seats are in, the interior looks like new, I got the top on after sitting out back for a few years....but the window won't work. I will be playing with that tomorrow, but I am up, so here are the pics. I wish I had taken more, but once you start the project its self explanatory.
My 89 had front and rear seats, and it is an SR5 with all power, sunroof, etc..but it didn't have nice seats! A few years back, I bought some for the front that had all the adjustment knobs for $75. Those look and feel great, but the back ones were just plain and now they have been weathered and dog worn.
I bought the replacements from a 2nd gen SR5(I think it was a 95). I wasn't sure if they would fit, but I could at least use the headrests, and one of the door lock looking seat lock knobs.
The dimensions for the seats are about the same, and they function the same, but where they bolt up in relation to each other is completely different.
Here's a pic of the new seat bottom:
Take the trim off your old seat cushion and you will see this:
Its just a frame with a cushion that has a built in frame connected to it. The upholstery is wrapped and connected with hog nose clips or staples. Get some sharp snips or just stick your needle nose pliers in and open them to pry the clips open. This is a pain in the ass at first, but it gets easier.
Here is what the back of the new seats look like:
I went one cushion at a time, and since my frames were rusty, I treated them before putting the new cushions on.
Here's what the 95's frame looked like:
And here is my old frame after I treated them.
You will notice that they are a litte different. The place for the "feet" of your bottom cushions do not line up. That's why I used my old frame. The other way to go would be to cut out and weld the feet bracket spots in the needed llocation, but I am not a welder. If you ever want to know how to do something easy, ask the Lazy man....
I took the new cushion assembly and cut the foam to match my old frame:
Then I pulled the cover tight and used zip ties to connect it to my old frame.
I thought the backs would just bolt in, but I was wrong. They work the same, but I locked them in where the striker is, and this is how far off they are from bolting in:
I guess my work was cut out for me now...swap the backs just like I did the bottoms:
and one half is done!
Here's the finished product:
It wasn't hard, just time consuming, but I think it was worth it. If you need seats and you don't have ones currently, you might be able to weld the brackets to the right spots, but that was out of my league to do that.
I still have the unused stuff if anybody for some strange reason wants them. Otherwise, they are going in the trash this week.
Hope this helps...
My 89 had front and rear seats, and it is an SR5 with all power, sunroof, etc..but it didn't have nice seats! A few years back, I bought some for the front that had all the adjustment knobs for $75. Those look and feel great, but the back ones were just plain and now they have been weathered and dog worn.
I bought the replacements from a 2nd gen SR5(I think it was a 95). I wasn't sure if they would fit, but I could at least use the headrests, and one of the door lock looking seat lock knobs.
The dimensions for the seats are about the same, and they function the same, but where they bolt up in relation to each other is completely different.
Here's a pic of the new seat bottom:
Take the trim off your old seat cushion and you will see this:
Its just a frame with a cushion that has a built in frame connected to it. The upholstery is wrapped and connected with hog nose clips or staples. Get some sharp snips or just stick your needle nose pliers in and open them to pry the clips open. This is a pain in the ass at first, but it gets easier.
Here is what the back of the new seats look like:
I went one cushion at a time, and since my frames were rusty, I treated them before putting the new cushions on.
Here's what the 95's frame looked like:
And here is my old frame after I treated them.
You will notice that they are a litte different. The place for the "feet" of your bottom cushions do not line up. That's why I used my old frame. The other way to go would be to cut out and weld the feet bracket spots in the needed llocation, but I am not a welder. If you ever want to know how to do something easy, ask the Lazy man....
I took the new cushion assembly and cut the foam to match my old frame:
Then I pulled the cover tight and used zip ties to connect it to my old frame.
I thought the backs would just bolt in, but I was wrong. They work the same, but I locked them in where the striker is, and this is how far off they are from bolting in:
I guess my work was cut out for me now...swap the backs just like I did the bottoms:
and one half is done!
Here's the finished product:
It wasn't hard, just time consuming, but I think it was worth it. If you need seats and you don't have ones currently, you might be able to weld the brackets to the right spots, but that was out of my league to do that.
I still have the unused stuff if anybody for some strange reason wants them. Otherwise, they are going in the trash this week.
Hope this helps...
06-19-2007, 05:26 AM
#5
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I am interested in doing my seats in my 89 runner. But I really need to do work to the front seats. Mine are trashed. I was thinking about buying aftermarket, but I was also wondering if a second gen. seat would fit in the first gen. Have you played with doing a front seat mod at all?
06-19-2007, 06:45 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
The front seats came out of a 93 or 94 SR5. they bolt in, but the driver side is off by less than an inch on one bolt so I "flexed" the seat into position and tightened it up. Well, that works, but I think the "flex" caused the wire that moves the right side of the rails to loosen and my seat became stuck in one position. Fine for me, but a pain if My girlfriend wanted to drive. Yesterday, while doing everything else, I took out the front seat and modified it. I couldn't get enough tension on the control wire thing to release the right side and let it slide so I just opened it permanently by wedgin some plastic inside the spring. It slides, but its only locked on one side...not the safest, but even if the force from a wreck were to send you flying forward, your seatbelt is what's going to stop you, not your seat. If this doesn't work, I will figure out how to make it work properly.
So, to answer your question, yes, 2nd gen seats work, but you will be off by one bolt hole. i would recommend drilling the hole in the proper area or making a small bracket.
Patrick
So, to answer your question, yes, 2nd gen seats work, but you will be off by one bolt hole. i would recommend drilling the hole in the proper area or making a small bracket.
Patrick
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06-19-2007, 03:50 PM
#10
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Yeah, the runner is looking great in anticipation of my girlfriend taking it over after I pick up my 84 in a few weeks. Thanks for the compliments.
Now, I just have to figure out how to bypass that wiper detection pin switch so I can use the rear window without fault.
Now, I just have to figure out how to bypass that wiper detection pin switch so I can use the rear window without fault.
06-19-2007, 07:41 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
06-19-2007, 07:53 PM
#14
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Just make sure you have a bolt in the hole just behind the driver side rear tire. There's a pin switch in that hole. In the diagram, it's the "cover top switch".
06-19-2007, 08:19 PM
#15
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Thread Starter
That was one of my problems, but the one I am stumped on is the pin switch by the motor that tells the relay/computer that the wiper is in the seated position. My wiper is bent or broke so it won't lock in at the top. In the past, I had put a rubber band around the pin to defeat it, but I am sure there is a better way to bypass that thing. I just bent the tab that crosses over it so that it would make better contact. That works, but I need to get the wiper to seat back off the window so I don't roll the window up on it.
06-19-2007, 08:41 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
Actually, I think the easiest thing to do would be to defeat the pin switch. Its just one of those switches like in your door frame to turn on the dome light and buzzer only this one is pushed down by a little bracket and that tells the relay or computer that wipe is seated or in my case, close to being seated.
If anyone has any ideas on how to defeat this switch let me know. I am going to do a write up with some pics of some of these rear window problem areas.
Thanks for the cover diagram. That's good stuff for troubleshooting the window wiper problem.
06-20-2007, 08:17 AM
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1st Gen SR5 seats from 88 or 89 are superior to 2nd Gen SR5 seats. I know from experience. More butt foam, side bolster support, etc, everything is better feeling. I can feel the seat frame in my 2nd Gen seats.
